Unhealthy Comparisons (5)

Daily Devotions

October 07, 2014

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1Ti 6:6 NIV
Unhealthy Comparisons (5)
Paul writes, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” This word “gain” doesn’t mean increase, but profit. There’s a difference. Profit is what you have left when the transaction is over. Paul meant that when everything is said and done, you must feel good about being yourself. You must be able to say, “I would rather be a great sergeant than a poor general.” Only when you’ve followed well, can you lead well. If you’re praying for a certain position or promotion, check your motives. Sometimes what we call faith is really just ambition, because we haven’t come to the place where we’re comfortable with the role God has given us. King Saul’s undoing was his ego. He couldn’t stand somebody else doing it better than he did. Many of us have a wrong concept of what being “blessed” looks like. We have seen God’s blessing in someone else’s life, so we think that to be like them is to be blessed. And no matter what God gives us, we are never happy because we’re not like them. We are asking God for something but we don’t know what it is, what it looks like, or when we have it. And if you don’t know you have it, you won’t know when you lose it. When you keep comparing yourself to somebody else you make that person an idol in your life. Tear that idol down! Ask God for a dream of your own. Stand on your own two feet. Be who God created you to be. Even though God has more in store for you, praise Him for what He’s given you right now.